Alliance Formed by Malaysia’s Islamic Parties Could Suppress Non-Muslim Rights

03/09/2019 Malaysia (International Christian Concern) – Two of Malaysia’s largest political parties, the United Malays National Organization (UMNO) and Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS), announced on March 5 their formal alliance, which could change the country’s political landscape.

UMNO and PAS set up a special technical committee to explore further political cooperation, a move that could affect almost two-thirds of the Malay electorate. The formalized political tie, however, is not welcomed by everyone.

The Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST), an inter-faith group from the civil society, is concerned that this alliance would diminish non-Muslim rights in Malaysia.

PAS’ stance on church-state relations has always been that Malaysia must be governed by Islam as practiced. The party aspires to an Islamic theocratic state and demands religious law to be higher than the constitution. UMNO politician also once stated that non-Muslims cannot hold the posts of chief justice, attorney-general and finance minister.

As a result, MCCBCHST put out a statement today calling on the government to “warn everyone against making such seditious remarks, which have the tendency to question the rights of others, and if there is enough evidence, charge them in court.”